Hi guys! I'm Chidera and I'm a '25 from Lagos, Nigeria. I've lived in a big city for nearly half of my life, so it's great to experience the scenic outdoor spaces surrounding Dartmouth. Outside of the classroom, I conduct research with the economics department, I'm a peer tutor for the Academic Skills Center and I'm also involved with the Dartmouth Energy Alliance.
Being from a country where the temperature hardly ever dropped below 25°C/77°F, acquiring a winter wardrobe was a long and overwhelming process. I can't count how many times I googled "what to wear during New England winters", only to be bombarded by several different websites giving several different suggestions. But lucky for you, it doesn't have to be that way. If you're from a warm place like me, with a closet full of t-shirts and fun skirts and shorts for the summer, then this is your guide to what to wear during winters in Hanover.
The Big Black Puffa
This piece of clothing is almost synonymous with winter. On the coldest days, you'll need a big, warm jacket. These are usually either filled with goose down feathers or are artificially insulated with polyester; both options are equally warm. Since this is a jacket that you'll probably wear really often, I recommend getting one that's black so that you can pair it with anything. It's also great to have one that at least goes down to your mid-thigh as that will help keep your legs warm.
Boots
Although you can sometimes get away with wearing a pair of sneakers and warm woolly socks, I definitely recommend getting a pair of winter boots for those cold snowy days. A lot of winter boots are insulated so they keep your feet nice and toasty even in the coldest snowstorms and have good traction, so you don't slip on icy sidewalks. Lastly, it's nice to have a pair of boots that at least come up to your ankle because you're going to want to stomp around in the inches of fresh snow with your friends on snow days.
Layers
Layering is probably the most important part of dressing for winter. It's nice to have a couple of sweaters, sweatshirts and long-sleeved shirts that you can wear on top of each other depending how cold it is outside. On some days, I can get away with wearing a t-shirt and a sweater with my coat, and on other days when it's colder I might wear as many as three or four layers! Layers are a stylish and versatile way of staying warm.
Accessories
These are often overlooked by a lot of people, but they are some of the most important pieces of clothing in my winter wardrobe. In addition to the clothes you'll wear, you'll also need warm gloves, a hat, and warm woolly socks. I've realized that the tips of your body, your hands, feet, and ears, are the places that get cold the easiest. So, having warm accessories help you stay warm and toasty while walking or hanging out outside.
I hope this helps you figure out what clothes to get for winter in Hanover without overwhelming you with a billion different suggestions. It can get really cold but as long as you wear the right clothing, you'll even start to look forward to being outside.
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The big-little process in my sorority has strengthened my bond with my big, fostered new friendships across class years, and deepened my sense of community and belonging on campus.
